We are very excited to reveal the six books shortlisted for Shropshire Bookfest’s Big Book Award 2026.

Each of them has been enthusiastically recommended by Year 5 and 6 pupils in Shropshire primary schools. Between them, they spent 8 weeks reading more than 70 titles nominated for the Award by leading UK publishers – all published in the last year.

The final shortlist has been selected based on the children’s comments and reviews. These are the books they feel other 9-11-year-olds will love the most!

Enjoy finding out more about each of the books and their authors by clicking on the cover images:

More than 1,200 Year 5 and 6 pupils in 33 Shropshire primary schools taking part in Big Book Award 2026 will spend Spring Term 2026 reading these wonderful books. And on 25th March 2026, they will vote for their favourite.

The book with the most votes will be crowned as the winner of Shropshire Bookfest’s Big Book Award 2026 at a special Awards Ceremony in Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury on 21st April.

We can’t wait to find out which one it is!